This is for the arts and economy story uploaded a couple days ago. Here's the edited copy:
A new study shows Delaware’s arts industry fared better most states during the recent recession.
The report by Americans for the Arts shows the state received about $142 million in revenue in 2010 – the same as it did in 2004.
Arts organizations also added more than 200 new jobs and increased spending by three percent.
Americans for the Arts’ Chief Counsel for Government Affairs Nina Ozlu Tunceli says that’s unique, as spending nationwide dipped by the same figure.
“Private funders, public funders and earned income continued to move forward in Delaware; it didn’t come to a standstill, they didn’t start cutting things,” Tunceli said. “They continued to spend and I think it’s because they understand that this is a real economic value.”
She says the state’s investment of about $1.6 million in grants to these organizations was one key factor.
“The return on that investment is about $9.9 million annually. So there are elected officials here that really get it and understand that this is an economic investment, as much as it is an investment in the well-being of its citizens,” Tunceli said.
The report also shows the state has relied more on out of state patrons to support the arts over the last decade, but Tunceli expects Delawareans will resume their role as the top contributor as the economy improves.
This piece is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the national Endowment for the Arts.
